Tonnage rose 20 per cent in 2016 for Frankfurt Cargo Services (FCS), and continues to grow due to the security, safety and service the customers receive, explains managing director Hans-Georg Emmert.
FCS, which merged with Worldwide Flight Services in 2016, has been busy due to strong growth for its customers while winning new contracts.
The first half of 2017 has exceeded expectations with a 30 per cent rise in tonnage.
Emmert says: “We have seen strong and sustainable growth over the last 18 months so we are very positive about the rest of the year. Our customers are continuing to see their cargo volumes increase, and we are also working hard to win more new business.”
Improving service is as important as upgrading infrastructure, with innovations including a new ramp control system to improve service levels for truck drivers delivering and collecting cargo, providing more transparent cargo processing and capacity to grow in the future.
Emmert comments: “It allows us to optimise the use of our resources and to avoid challenging peaks in vehicle processing. For our customers than means shorter waiting times because we have live information from the warehouse which enables us to manage the handling of our customers’ vehicles more efficiently.”
This gives FCS the ability to measure quality of service and identify opportunities for improvements, and has the environmental advantage of reducing CO2 emissions from trucks having to spent time waiting to be served.
FCS has also expanded and enhanced its truck docks, increasing capacity to handle vehicles and reducing waiting times for customers, with 94 gates available in the 56,000 square metre warehouse area.
Upgrades are also planned for the cool storage area for temperature controlled cargo and FCS will be investing in improving ULD storage facilities.
Emmert comments: “We are also the first station in the WFS network to roll-out the Crises Management System which will allow us to proactively inform customers of activities in or around our facility as well as notify directly all our customers, customers if desired.”
FCS is committed to developing its presence in Frankfurt and investing in the long-term future, with including further qualifications and knowledge for employees, investing in new safety and handling technology, electronic billing and embracing IATA’s e-freight project.
Emmert says: “Using our Hermes handling software we are well prepared for e-freight and see a lot of potential for electronic transmission of freight data.”
